Photos: Japan's Naked Festival is a dangerous place to be

Trevor Williams, Getty Images02.18.2014

Men in loincloths participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.

Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Men in loincloths purify themselves in a cold fountain as part of the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Men in loincloths participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Nervous smiles while dressing in loincloths in preparation for the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Teams of men in loincloths participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Men in loincloths participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Due to the dangerous nature of the event, men insert papers with their vital details, such as blood type, name and contact numbers in loincloths before participating in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Several generations of males in loincloths participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Loincloths on sale before the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Men in loincloths participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Rescue services attend to a man in the middle of the chaos during the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Men in loincloths purify themselves in a cold fountain as part of the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Men don loincloths in order to participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, JapanTrevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Men help each other dress in loincloths to participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

This man takes a moment to focus before entering the chaos of the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Men in loincloths participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Children in loincloths participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images

Men in loincloths march on to participate in the Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Japan. In this one of the most vibrant festivals in Japan, some 9,000 men battle to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.Trevor Williams
/ Getty Images